HUGHES, Richard Ewen
| Service Number: | 5296 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 July 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Echuca, Victoria, Australia, November 1891 |
| Home Town: | Yerong Creek, Lockhart, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Bullecourt, France, 3 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Parkville Old State College Memorial Windows, Shire of Nunawading Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 5296, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' |
|
| 28 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5296, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 3 May 1917: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Sergeant, 5296, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5296 awm_unit: 22 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-05-03 |
Charlton School Teacher Departs
Richard Ewen Hughes enlisted whilst working as a High School teacher at Charlton Higher Elementary School. At a recruitment rally held in Charlton, Victoria in July 1915, Richard spoke to the large crowd. His words were reported in the local newspaper.
"Mr R. E Hughes of the Charlton High School staff, who has enlisted, said that six months ago he had almost made up his mind to join, when ambition said, “Finish your studies and fight later.” Thank goodness he had a conscience. He thought the matter over and heard the call “go now and not when it may be too late.” (Applause) He did not think the Allies could be beaten, but if people delayed in enlisting it would mean lots of valuable lives. He felt it was an honour to occupy the position of the men who had fallen. (Hear, hear). They should also make it their ambition to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men there now, and not wait till they had fallen. (Hear, hear).We were called on to fight for our own existence, and any man who had a grain of patriotism would fight for Australia. (Applause). Every young man who put the question to himself must feel that it was an honour to do as so many had done, and he trusted a great many more would do. He would rather die an Australian private than live to be an Australian millionaire and a coward. (Cheers)." (East Charlton Tribune, 21 July 1915)
Richard was held in high esteem by the staff, students and townspeople and received several parting gifts: a silver wristlet watch and cardigan jacket from the school staff, a pair of wire cutters from the students, and a razor and pipe from the Charlton Patriotic League. A large crowd was present at the train station including the school children to send Richard and several other soldiers off to camp. (East Charlton Tribune, 24 July 1915)
Submitted 13 July 2015 by Carolyn Olive
Biography
"...5296 Sergeant Richard Ewen Hughes, 14th Reinforcements to the 22nd Battalion, of Yerong Creek near Henty, NSW. Sgt Hughes enlisted on 23 July 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Themistocles (A32) at Melbourne on 28 July 1916. He was killed in action on 3 May 1917 at Bullecourt, France and having no known grave is commemorated at the Villers Bretonneux Memorial." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley
"Richard E. Hughes was a brother of Mr. W. L. Hughes, of Yerong Creek, New South Wales, and was formerly temporary assistant at the Charlton Higher Elementary School.
His brother wrote from the Mundawaddera Public School, Yerong Creek, giving the following particulars:
"The youngest son of the late J.B. Hughes and Mrs. C. Hughes, of Torrumbarry North, near Echuca, Richard was born on the 29th of October, 1891. As a boy, he attended schools at the place of his birth and at Vermont, afterwards gaining admission to the Melbourne High School. Joining the service of the Education Department, he was appointed junior teacher at Mitcham. Later, he had charge of various country schools, and meanwhile qualified for admission to the Teachers College and the University. He was appointed to Charlton High School, whence he enlisted in July, 1915. On the 3rd of May, 1917, he was killed at Bullecourt. Another brother is serving in the AIF."
Corporal Hughes's record as a teacher shows him to have been conscientious and hard-working.
His official military record says that he enlisted on the 6th of July, 1915, and embarked with the 14th Reinforcements to the 22nd Battalion on the transport Thermistacles on the 28th of July, 1916.
After training in England, he went to France and joined his unit on the 28th of December, 1916. He was promoted Corporal on the 23nd of February, 1917, and was killed on the 3rd of May."
Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.
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